The
Secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction
(UN/ISDR) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

A
framework to guide and monitor disaster risk reduction
from 25 August to 26 September 2003

Focus

Technical
support by

A Draft Framework to Guide and Monitor
Disaster Risk Reduction

The International
Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) Secretariat and UNDP are
developing a framework for understanding, guiding and monitoring
disaster risk reduction at
all levels. The ultimate goal of this collective and iterative endeavour
is to encourage and
increase appropriate, effective disaster reduction practices.

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Introductory note

Benefits

By
systematically compiling information about disaster
reduction initiatives using an agreed framework benefits
are expected to include abilities to:

Develop systematic, comprehensive data and
information about disaster reduction;
Provide a basis for research in disaster reduction;

Compare approaches and analyze trends;
Identify existing gaps and address them through
new or improved programmes, policies, or
plans;

The
process should result in an increased commitment
by governments and other stakeholders for disaster
risk reduction. The process will draw from, and feed
into, existing practices, institutional and policy-making
/ planning processes. It strives to be transparent
and engage as many actors as possible in the development
and testing of the framework, starting by addressing
the international community, with the objective of
reaching national and local levels.

Users
will include decision-makers in Governments and agencies,
project managers, researchers, NGO's, communities
and educators

The framework
is provided as a starting point an initial
core set of principles and goals to understand, and thus guide
and monitor, disaster risk reduction. As one reads to the right
across the framework in any thematic area and component, the
columns suggest increasingly specific descriptions and measures
in a systematic
fashion, with the aim to define related benchmarks. (It is difficult
to characterize this column without making special reference
to the type of hazards affecting your unit of analysis (region,
country,
community, etc.) Nevertheless, these criteria are kept at a generic
level).

All stakeholders are invited to contribute their experience and
participate in the refinement of the course of action needed
to develop the framework. In particular, views and concrete recommendations
are invited on:

The process and added value of the framework, its uses and users, its benefits,
as well as potential challenges;

The proposed thematic areas, components and characteristics;

How can progress achieved in disaster risk reduction be monitored
and assessed.

Objectives

The objectives of the consultative process to develop a framework
are to:
Develop a wider and increased understanding of disaster
risk reduction practices and enhance their effectiveness.
Users at any level should be able to adapt
and utilize it according to their own needs and specific situation;

Identify the elements of disaster reduction so that achievements
can be recorded systematically and compared over time;

Define benchmarks and other indicators that can be used to
monitor efforts and assess progress in disaster risk
reduction.

The UN and international community is the first target audience.
By increasing its own performance in managing and co-ordinating
its responsibilities related to disaster reduction within the wider
development context, it will better serve other actors along the
chain.